CADWA social club in Childwall could be forced to close over VAT debt

A PROMINENT Liverpool social club is facing closure after bailiffs stripped its fixtures and fittings over an unpaid VAT debt.

A PROMINENT Liverpool social club is facing closure after bailiffs stripped its fixtures and fittings over an unpaid VAT debt.

Agents working for HM Revenue and Customs arrived at the CADWA Club on Rocky Lane, Childwall, and took away their tables, chairs and even tills as part payment of what is believed to be substantial sum of owed tax.

The club will tonight hold a crisis meeting of members to decide if they should struggle on or close their doors forever.

Treasurer Terry Edwards told the ECHO: “I came in to do some tidying up and there was letter from the receiver saying they’d been round once and couldn’t get in and if it happened again they’d force entry.

“I phoned them and they were still in Liverpool so they came right round and cleared the place out.

“The guy said if it was up to him they’d have taken everything right down to the carpets but he could only take things that had been inventoried.

“That means we still have our glassware, washing machines, the cellar stock and benches that are fitted to the wall so we’re still operational.

“Last night we had a fire sale and charged flat rates because we haven’t got any tills and the place was busier than it has been in ages.”

He added: “The problem is we have had a choice whether to buy beer or to pay the VAT, but not do both.

“We thought at least if we buy beer we’re still a going concern.”

The Chelwood and District Welfare Association club opened in 1971 and hosts community events including twice weekly bingo, Slimming World clubs, children’s line dancing and live acts every Saturday.

Membership is believed to have declined from 1,400 in the 1970s to around 350 today. Chairman Rob Davies, who declined to say how much the club owed, added: “It took us by surprise, even though we knew we had debts.

“We’d spoken to the taxman and we thought we’d be able to pay it off piece by piece because if they put us out of business no one wins. But to them you are just a number.

“The problem is no one comes to social clubs any more. We’re taking the same amount of money we were five years ago but our overheads are much higher.”

Mr Davies, who has been with the club since it was founded, added: “There’s no point in trying to carry on if members don’t want to. And if only 20 people turn up that will speak for itself.”

The club is booked until Christmas as a function room and committee officers are trying to get in touch with people to cancel arrangements.

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Alastair Machray was appointed editor of The Liverpool Echo in 2005 and is also editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. He is a former editor of The Daily Post (Wales and England) and editor-in-chief of the company's Welsh operations. Married dad-of-two and keen golfer Alastair is one of the longest-serving newspaper editors in the country. His titles have won numerous awards and spearheaded numerous successful campaigns.